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What factors are predictive of benefit finding in women treated for non‐metastatic breast cancer? A prospective study
Author(s) -
Wang Yuping,
Zhu Xiongzhao,
Yang Yanjie,
Yi Jinyao,
Tang Lili,
He Jincai,
Chen Gang,
Li Lingyan,
Yang Yuling
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psycho‐oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.41
H-Index - 137
eISSN - 1099-1611
pISSN - 1057-9249
DOI - 10.1002/pon.3685
Subject(s) - optimism , breast cancer , pessimism , social support , psychology , cognition , clinical psychology , metastatic breast cancer , scale (ratio) , medicine , cancer , psychiatry , psychotherapist , philosophy , epistemology , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective Patients with breast cancer are able to gain psychological benefits from cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as a greater purpose of life and closer relationships, termed as ‘benefit finding’ (BF). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of sociodemographic, pathological, and psychological variables on BF in women with non‐metastatic breast cancer. Methods A total of 404 patients with breast cancer were recruited to complete a demographic survey, a Chinese version of the Benefit Finding Scale, the Optimism‐pessimism Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire during the first week after the confirmation of the diagnosis (T1). All participants finished the Chinese version of the Benefit Finding Scale again 6 weeks after diagnosis (T2). Results Age and education of patients, perceived social support from family, acceptance, positive reappraisal, and the baseline level of BF exhibited a positive prediction on BF. Education, pessimism, and perceived social support from family had a positive prediction and perceived social support from friends and refocus on planning had a negative prediction on the family relationship of BF. Education, perceived social support from family and friends, and the baseline level of BF had a positive prediction on the acceptance of BF. Conclusions Perceived social support and cognitive emotion regulation strategies employed in response to breast cancer are important contributing factors to BF in women with breast cancer. In order to improve the longer‐term adaptation of patients, benefit finding, either directly or via cognitive emotion regulation strategies, could be targeted for intervention. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.